Blood purification company Aethlon Medical turns its focus to cancer
Summary
Aethlon Medical grabbed headlines a few years ago when its HemoPurifier blood filtering device was used on an emergency basis to treat a physician who had contracted Ebola while working in West Africa. The San Diego company’s device consists of a plasmapheresis cartridge filled with hollow fibers allowing for fluid flow and a plant protein called galanthus nivalis agglutinin, which has the ability to bind to certain viral agents. Cancerous exosomes and the viruses targeted by the Hemofilter share similar characteristics, including size and the prevalence of a sugar called mannose in their outer covering, which binds to the protein in the device. The company received an FDA Breakthrough Device designation in 2018 for use of the Hemopurifier for the treatment of advanced or metastatic cancers and where exosomes have shown to be a contributor to disease. When asked about the cross collaboration being a potential precursor to a merger, Rodell remained mum citing SEC rules on the disclosure of future business plans for public companies.